Chapter 4

When we got home, my mom stopped me just as I was about to go to my room.

"Pack up your things. Chloe is moving in tomorrow."

"She starts at Aegis next week. Her family's place is too far from the office, so she'll be living with us."

I followed her gaze.

In the hallway sat brand-new bedding and a vanity table that had just been delivered.

All in Chloe's favorite baby pink.

"Where is she staying?"

"Your room, of course. We don't have any other spare rooms."

I froze. "Then where do I sleep?"

My mom paused, pointing toward the storage closet near the entrance.

"Clean out the storage room. A folding bed can fit in there. Chloe is our guest, so you'll just have to deal with it."

The storage room was piled high with old furniture. The window was half-blocked by a cabinet, and there was mold on the walls.

When we were kids and Chloe stayed over, I used to give up my bed and sleep there too.

Back then, my mom would stroke my hair and say, "Our Natalie is the most sensible girl."

I had always thought being sensible would earn me a little bit of her love.

Only later did I realize that the reward for being sensible was being expected to give up everything forever.

"No, I won't do it."

It was the first time I had ever said no.

My mom's face darkened instantly.

"Chloe is going to be busy with her new job. She needs proper rest!"

"You don't even have a job lined up. What difference does it make where you sleep?"

I whispered, "It's my room."

My mom laughed as if she'd heard a joke.

"Your room? Everything in this house was given to you by us. What's wrong with you giving up a room for a bit?"

I stared at her and suddenly asked, "What if the job I got is better than Chloe's?"

My mom frowned. "Natalie, it's one thing to have no talent, but don't lie just because you're jealous."

I had wanted to tell her that I was accepted by the Cairo Institute.

But the words died in my throat.

My dad finally snapped in irritation, "If you don't want to sleep in the storage room, then pack your bags and get out. Nobody is stopping you."

I looked at them and nodded.

"Okay."

They thought I was just throwing a tantrum. My mom didn't even try to stop me.

She only warned me to clear my things out completely so I wouldn't delay Chloe's move-in tomorrow.

I found a cheap hostel nearby. A six-bed dorm, top bunk, thirty dollars a night.

Every time the person next to me tossed and turned, the entire metal frame shook.

But the moment I lay down, I felt more at peace than I ever had at home.

At least this bed was truly mine, paid for with my own money.

The next day, I went back to pack the rest of my things.

When I opened my jewelry box, I realized the sapphire cross necklace left by my grandma was gone.

Grandma Eleanor was the only person in that family who had ever truly loved me.

When I had a high fever as a kid, my mom was away at Chloe's dance recital. It was Grandma who carried me to the hospital on her back.

She told me, "Our Natalie isn't fearless. She's just too scared to cry because there's no one to comfort her."

After Grandma passed away, that cross necklace became my only comfort.

I marched into the living room, clutching the empty box.

"Mom, where is my necklace?"

My mom paused her hands while stripping the bedsheets.

"It's just an old cross. How should I know where you put it?"

The moment she finished speaking, a photo popped up in the family Snapchat group.

My dad had set up a dinner with his friends to introduce Chloe to the executives of Aegis Group.

In the photo, Chloe was wearing the new designer dress we bought yesterday. And around her neck was my sapphire cross necklace.

I shoved the photo in front of my mom's face.

Seeing she couldn't lie her way out, she doubled down, completely shameless.

"Chloe was meeting executives today. Her neck looked too bare, so I gave it to her."

"You never wear it anyway. Why let it gather dust?"

"That was Grandma's!"

My mom's expression went cold. "I'm your mother. Do I need your permission to take something from this house?"

"Besides, your grandma adored Chloe too when she was alive. If she knew you were throwing a fit over a piece of jewelry, she'd think you were incredibly petty."

"Grandma wouldn't."

Tears fell without warning, and my voice began to tremble.

"Grandma was the only person in this family who never forced me to give up my things to Chloe."

I turned to head to the restaurant, but my mom blocked the door immediately.

"The executives are still there! If you go now, are you trying to ruin Chloe's career?!"

While we were arguing, the front door swung open.

Chloe was back.

She touched the sapphire cross on her chest.

"Natalie, are you looking for this?"

She unclasped the chain and held it out in her palm.

"I didn't know this was from your grandma. Helen told me it was a graduation gift."

I walked over and reached out my hand.

"Give it back."

I was still two paces away from her when she suddenly let go.

The necklace crashed heavily onto the tiled floor. The blue sapphire in the center of the cross shattered into pieces.

Chloe took a step back, tears streaming down her face first.

"I'm so sorry... you rushed at me so fast, I got scared..."